CIDAS - compact integrated DSelf-defence for airborne platforms

Contact

Self-defence for airborne platforms means knowing whether anyone is observing me or making me a target. That requires keeping track of every type of signal out there. Saab's IDAS/CIDAS family of electronic warfare systems are designed to provide self-defence in sophisticated, diverse and dense threat environments.

CIDAS is the small and light weight variant with only electrooptical sensors and a smaller controller. It can be configured for laser-warning and missile-approach-warning. The system is fully integrated with the BOP-L countermeasures dispenser. Your integration effort will be minimised: IDAS systems are already a fully integrated Defensive Aids System (DAS).

FEATURES

CIDAS/IDAS is a family of advanced EW systems designed to provide Electronic order of Battle, EoB, and self-defence for airborne platforms in sophisticated, diverse and dense threat environments. The system components are small and lightweight and are easy to install since the system offered is already fully integrated.

Customisable to user requirements

Easy to install

Independent user

Laser-warning function

Missile-approach warning function

Countermeasures-dispensing function

Flight-line test equipment

Customisable to user requirements

CIDAS is a Compact IDAS version with only electro-optical sensors and CM dispenser, designed for the protection of aircraft against man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) and laser-based threats, many of which are encountered in the currently prevailing peace keeping environment.

CIDAS is fully integrated with BOP-L, Saab’s new advanced lightweight countermeasures (CM) dispensing system. The modular system architecture allows CIDAS to be configured for any combination of the two electrooptical sensor system types. CIDAS systems offer cost-effective defensive aids, providing exceptional performance in a lightweight form for a wide variety of aircraft

Laser-warning function

The laser-warning functionality is achieved by using four (4) LWS-310 sensors and a processor card in the electronic-warfare controller (EWC). It features high sensitivity, excellent threat coverage and exceptional probability of intercept (POI) for both single and multi-pulse emissions. A unique feature of this system is that it not only classifies laser emissions, but can also identify laser emission through a user-programmable threat library.

Missile-approach warning function

A unique optical design, incorporating filter technology with purpose-built image intensifier tubes and photon-counting focal-plane array processors, ensures high sensitivity equating to long detection range. Each sensor uses a dedicated digital signal processor making use of a distributed, hierarchical data-processing architecture to ensure optimal utilisation of information in real time. Digitisation and pre-processing functions are performed at the detector using an advanced focal-plane processor. Each sensor’s data is transferred to a dedicated digital signal processor (MAW controller), resident in the EWC, which performs equalisation, segmentation and feature extraction. Each sensor processor can detect and process multiple potential targets, passing the spatial and temporal feature data to the processor card in the EWC. There, the spatial data is integrated with real-time INS information to compensate for platform movement, attitude and altitude. The MAW controller then executes neural-net pattern-recognition algorithms to ensure accurate operation with very low false-alarm rates.

The missile-approach warning system is in production for numerous platforms. It has been field tested and approved against various missiles including live missile firings under in-flight dynamic conditions.

Countermeasures-dispensing function (BOP-L Series)

The BOP-L dispensers are controlled via a fully integrated chaff-and-flare dispenser controller that resides in the EWC. This allows for automatic dispensing under the control of the EWC upon threat-identification.

The system can handle mixed payloads per dispenser, i.e. chaff and flares mixed in each dispenser. Semi-automatic and manual firing capability is also provided. User-defined dispensing programmes/sequences are selected by the EWC per identified threat. The dispensing techniques can be defined in the threat library for the EWC and uploaded to the system on the flight-line.

The jettison of all payloads is possible in all modes of operation under emergency conditions.

Flight-line test equipment

CIDAS is supported by appropriate flight-line stimulators for each type of sensor and chaff-and-flare test blocks (CFTB) for the dispensers. The flight-line test equipment is used to verify system serviceability prior to missions. Test equipment has been developed in cooperation with RUAG.

In use

IDAS, the full size configuration of our Defensive Aids Systems, has achieved outstanding operational success with a growing list of customers in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The product has been ordered/installed on helicopters, commercial transport aircraft as well as fighters.

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with RIOgaleão, the concessionaire responsible for managing the Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, to supply a common-use surface surveillance platform. The system increases the efficiency of aircraft operations on the ground and contributes to reduced flight delays. RIOgaleão, the second busiest international airport in Brazil, will be the first airport in Latin America to use this technology.